Vessertal-Thüringen Forest

The biosphere protection was expanded in 1990, when the Thuringian Forest Nature Park was founded, and again in 2018.

[1][2] Vessertal-Thüringen Forest is crossed by the famous German hiking trail ‘Rennsteig’.

Upland, low-lying and valley meadows reflect the extensive use by people for dairy cow raising.

Activities in the transition area are agriculture, fish farming, commerce and retail, forestry, glass manufacture and crafts.

The major habitats & land cover types are mixed mountain forest dominated by Picea abies, Fagus sylvatica and Acer pseudoplatanus, sometimes mixed with Abies alba and Ulmus glabra; mountain clefts with Fraxinus excelsior, Acer platanoides and Alnus glutinosa; mountainous hay meadow with Trisetum flavescens, Geranium sylvaticum, Arnica montana together with several orchid species such as Coeloglossum viride and Dactylorhiza sambucina; mountain springs and streams with Phalaris arundinacea, Mimulus guttatus, Veronica beccabunga etc.